Manufacture of vehicle frames



Feb. 23, 1932. T, MURRAY; JR 1,846,567

MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLE FRAMES Original Filed May 1'7, 1923 In venfor Z/OMAIS EM/fifm v 1%.

BY/Hfarnem Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS E.MURRAY, JR, BROOKLYN, 'NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 METROPOLITAN EN GINEEBINGCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLE FRAMESOriginal application filed May 17, 1923, Serial No. 689,631.-

Dlvided and this application filed March 18,

1929. Serial N0. 347,774.

The invention aims to provide certain improvements in the manufacture offrames for automobiles and similar vehicles whereby they can be madeeconomically and have certain advantages in use referred to hereinafter.

The present application is a division of my application N 0. 639,631,filed May 17, 1923.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a frame;

Fig. 2 is a detail of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of modifications;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the parts of Fig. 2 before uniting them.

The frame comprises a pair of longitudinal members indicated as a wholeby the numeral 1, united at intervals by transverse go braces 2, 3 and4, the ends-of which are buttwelded to appropriate points of thelongitudinal or side members. The shapes of the parts may bevariedconsiderably according to the designs of the cars for which they areintended or the choice of the designer.

The side members 1 are made of sheetmetal segments bent to provideflanges at the top and bottom and welded together at the edgesof saidflanges to form closed hollow so shapes. Each side member may becontinuous from end to end, that is, without transverse joints. Or itmay be made of short sections with transverse joints at intervals.

r one segment may be continuous from end to end and the other made withtransverse joints at intervals. For example, in Fig. 1 each side memberis made of a continuous inner segment 5 to which are applied outersegments in sections 6, 7 and 8 with transverse joints 9 and 10 at theirmeeting ends. F i 5 shows two segments 5 and 7 each provided with topand bottom flanges 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 respectively. These are buttwelded together at their edges to form 5 longitudinal joints 15 and 16at the top and bottom. They are preferably united by resistance welding,pressing the edges together while assingacross the joint a weldingcurrent oi high amperage or density for a short 6 interval of time asdescribed, for example,

- ed together at their edges by the Murray or similar method ofresistance Welding.

The segment 5 of the side member is made with an opening surrounded by arib or lateral projection 17 shaped to fit the end of the brace 3. Theparts are united by welding the end of the brace to the edge of theprojection 17. Preferably here also butt welding resistance methods areused. The punching out of the rib 17 not only facilitates the making ofa good joint, but also opens communication between the spaces within theside members and the braces and provides a reservoir which may be usedfor gasoline or oil. All or any number of the cross braces may beassembled in communication with the side members for such purposes.

The cross-sections of the side members and of the braces may be varied.Fig. 3 shows the side members and also the braces made with straightvertical sides and rounded top and bottom. These shapes may be made ofsegments stamped from sheet metal, the same as the shapes of Figs. 1, 2and 5. The braces 35 are Welded to projecting ribs or flanges 18 similarto those shown at 17 in Figs. 2 and 5.

F i .4 illustrates the side member 1 made of sustantially the same shapeas in Fig. 1. The cross brace 19, however, is of seamless drawn tubingof circular cross-section. Its ends are butt-welded to a flange orprojection 20 punched out of the side members. The shapes of the bracesin Figs. 2 and 3 may be also made of seamless drawn tubing bent to thecross-section desired. While the crosssectional shape of the sidemembers may be varied, it is advantageous to have it of greater heightthan Width so as to better resist the strains of use which are chieflyvertical. It

is advisable also to have the inner face 5 (Fig. 5) flat and to have theedge of the projecting flange 17 in a plane at ri ht angles to' thelength of the brace so as to acilitate the mak- 5 ing of a. strongjoint.

Various other modifications may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing fi'om the invention as defined in the following oaims.

'10 1. A frame for automobiles and similar vehicles having hollow sidemembers, said members being constructed of sheet metal segments bent toprovideflanges at the top and bottom and welded together at their ed esto form a closed cross-section, one of sai segments being continuouslyintegral from end to end and the'other being in a plurality of sectionsjoined by transverse welded joints.

2. A frame for automobiles and similar ve- 20 hicles having hollow sidemembers and transverse braces between them, each of said side membersbeing constructed of sheet metal segments bent to provide flanges at thetop and bottom and welded together at the edges of said flanges to forma closed cross-section, the segments forming the inner sides of saidmembers having flat vertical exposed faces V and havin lateralprojections from said flat faces .whic projections are identical inshape and size with the ends of the braces, the ends of said pro'ectionsbeing butt welded to the ends of the races.

3. A frame for automobiles and similar vehicles having hollowlongitudinal members with flat vertical sides and rounded tops andbottoms, said members constructed of sheet metal bent up into a hollowsection and welded together at its edges, in combination with transversebraces of a height not greater than 49 that of the fiat vertical sidesof the longitudinal members, the ends of the transverse braces beingwelded to said flat vertical sides of the longitudinal members.

4. A frame for automobiles and similar vehicles having hollowlongitudinal members with flat vertical sides and rounded to s andbottoms, ""said members constructed 0 sheet metal bent up into a hollowsection and welded together at its ed es, in combination with 50transverse braces 0% a height not greater than that of the flat verticalsides of the longitu dinal members, the 'ends of the transverse bracesbeing welded to said flat vertical sides 'of the longltudinal members,said transverse braces also having flat vertical sides and rounded topsand bottoms.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. 6 THOMAS E. MURRAY,JR.

